Kerecis, a Swiss company developing fish skin-based tissue regeneration products, has rolled out two new products, GraftGuide Mano and GraftGuide Micro, to treat burns.
The GraftGuide Mano is designed to conform to the shape of a hand, and cover the complex 3D structure of the hand, preventing surgeons from tailoring the graft.
It reduces the need for multiple grafts and bulky fixation, and minimises surgical time, along with speeding up recovery and preventing the loss of range of motion after healing.
GraftGuide Mano also allows patients to begin physical therapy immediately after it has been applied.
Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) burn and plastic surgeon Lt. Col Steven Jeffery said: “Treatment of burn wounds is often incredibly painful for burn victims, and most of these procedures are performed in the operating room where time is of the essence.
“Because GraftGuide Mano conforms so well to the hand, it enables a faster, more accurate application. This can significantly reduce operating time and improve the outcome and experience for both the patient and the healthcare team.
“I have seen firsthand the benefits of using fish skin grafts for burns, and GraftGuide Mano takes it to the next level with its innovative design. I am excited to incorporate it into my practice and see the positive impact it can have on my patients.”
GraftGuide Micro is also composed of intact fish skin but fills large and uneven burn surfaces and tight or irregular spaces that are not accessible to sheets.
It retains the 3D structural benefits of a GraftGuide sheet with a fragment size of about 1.5mm and is easy to apply and better covers deep spaces, said the company.
GraftGuide product line features a full-thickness fish dermis to address the challenges of burn healing, and are regulated as medical devices
The fish skin is processed using the company’s EnviroIntact method, which helps preserve the skin’s original 3D structure, maintaining its natural strength, complexity and molecules.
Kerecis said that the use of fish skin as a treatment for burns provides various benefits, including the ability to help new cells grow and promote the healing process.
Kerecis founder and CEO Fertram Sigurjonsson said: “These products respond to demand from healthcare professionals for easy-to-use, tailor-made solutions, which help improve outcomes, streamline workflows and reduce the time spent in the operating room.”
“I am always looking for new and innovative ways to repair tissue damage and defects. GraftGuide Micro has exceeded my expectations in terms of its handling properties.
“The product is easy to work with and can be moulded to fit the needs of each patient. I have already seen positive results in my patients who have received the fish skin graft for both blast and burn injuries where uneven surfaces and loss of soft tissues pose a big problem.”
